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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Can Hasan 3 |
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For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
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Type:
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Mound |
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Altitude:
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1140 m |
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Region:
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Central Anatolia |
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Province:
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Karaman |
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District:
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Merkez |
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Village:
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Alaçati |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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Aceramic |
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| Location: The site lies 12 km northeast of the city of Karaman in the Konya Plain and 1.5 km northwest of the village of Can Hasan. It is locally known as Kanaçyug. |
| Geography and Environment: The site of Can Hasan III; now a 6 m high mound with a 100 m diameter; was settled after the fluvial lake dried up. While only 2.25 m of the mound lies above the surrounding soil; 4.5 m of it lies beneath it. In addition; 2.5 m of the latter is beneath the current water table [French 1970a:148; French et al. 1972:182][Roberts 1991:14; 17]. The faunal remains found at Can Hasan III indicate that the site lay in an area with a dry and grassy vegetation and less likely along a lake or in a forested area. The carbonized fragments of tree [Wilcox 1978:7] suggest that although the climate was steppe; there were forested areas along the rivers and streams [Roberts 1991:20]. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: Excavations on the mound were directed by D. French of the English Archaeological Institute in 1969-70. |
| Stratigraphy: All seven layers at the mound site of Can Hasan III are assigned to the Aceramic Neolithic. There is an Ottoman pit that has partially destroyed the Neolithic layers in the central part of the mound. Several prehistoric pot-sherds were among the surface finds. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: The Aceramic Neolithic architecture at Can Hasan III is immediately beneath the surface. In addition to mudbrick; pisé was used in wall construction. There are no stone foundations. The walls and floors were plastered and some were painted red. The floors; which have occasional gravelly inclusions; were made from compacted clay and were hard. There are central courtyards; several adjacent structures as well as alleyways. The two roomed structures have intramural doorways. Other intramural features include benches; ovens and wall-ovens [French et al. 1972: 182]. Clay: Unbaked and semi-baked objects were found [French 1970b:4]. Chipped Stone: Of the 70;000 chipped stone finds; 3;500 have been classified as tools [Ataman 1987:339]. The raw material is mostly obsidian. Retouched points; point scrapers; steeply retouched blades; perforators; geometric crescents and trapezoidal shapes were found. Flint tools other than sickle blades are rare. Polished stones; polished necklaces and other beads are examples of other stones. Antler/Bone: Awls; spatulas and beads are among the bone finds [French et al. 1972: 189]. Fauna: In order of importance; the animal remains include cattle (Bos); sheep/goat (Ovis/Capra); deer (Cervus elaphus); roedeer (Capraelous capraelous); wild donkey (Eqqus heminous); wild pig (Sus scrofa); hare (Lepus); dog and wolf (Canis; Vulpes) as well as bones of turtle; snake; bird; small mammals and fish. Although it is not certain whether they had begun domesticating these animals; it is likely that cattle was domesticated and that pigs were wild [French et al. 1972:188; table 2; Payne 1972: 193]. Flora: The floral assemblage at this site is comprised of two types of wild Einkorn wheat; domesticated Einkorn (in one and two row varieties); two types of hard wheat; durum wheat; rye; two row variety of glume and one row variety of barley; lentils and legumes with large seeds; as well as walnuts; berries of terebith; wild grapes; wild wheats and many types of grasses [French et al. 1972:187; table 1; Payne 1972:193; Esin 1981:39-40]. Other: Some freshwater mollusk shells were found. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The Aceramic Neolithic site of Can Hasan III has been dated to 8;400/8;500 BP by the excavation director; D. French. The floral and faunal assemblages show that the subsistence of the peoples of Can Hasan III was based on cattle; sheep and goats as well as on domesticated crops. The site with its adjacent houses and interesting settlement pattern is one of the few Aceramic Neolithic sites in Central Anatolia which has undergone extensive excavation. |
